Taberna del Alabardero - Washington, District of Columbia

Carolina M.

Everything at La Taberna del Alabardero was absolutely delicious! We started with the patatas bravas, gambas al ajillo and eggplant, both packed with flavor and perfectly prepared. Then came the stars of the night, the mar y tierra paella and the black rice… ufff ufff ufff! Truly incredible dishes, rich, hearty, and unforgettable.

If you’re craving authentic Spanish cuisine done right, this place is a must-visit!

Deniz Y.

I tried it as a solo dinner experience during summer restaurant week in DC.
The ambiance and design were lovely. There was even live music.
The food was generally good. I ordered the Croquetas de Jamón Serrano as a hot appetizer. And as a seafood lover, it was absolutely delicious. It tasted a bit like fish cakes. For the main course, I ordered paella, which was dry and flavorless. Also, why was there chicken in a seafood dish? And the chicken was terrible. The cocktails were excellent. I especially recommend trying the Sherry Mojito. It was fresh and delicious. Lastly, I was disappointed. There's a mandatory 20% service fee on your bill, so keep that in mind when you want to go.

P F.

Everything was wonderful! We started with gazpacho appetizer -- beautiful presentation and excellent proportion (see photo). The bream and snapper dishes were really good. The bream was cooked in an "igloo" of salt which imparted a nice flavor and not too salty. Shout-out to our server Antonio who was first-rate.

Claudia V.

Excellent spot for celebrating a special occasion! 5/5 in every single category. If you love a live performance with great service and food, you cannot miss Alabardero.

We went to celebrate my sister’s birthday - they sat us at a table with a great view to the flamenco performance, greeted us with a lovely birthday card and even invited her to do a sevillana! The attention to detail and service provided by everyone made this such a wonderful occasion. Cannot wait to return!

Claudia J.

Fantastic Tuna salad, just like I grew up enjoying it! Mushroom croquettes were delicious, so we ordered twice. Paired w wonderful Garnasha for a great happy hour. Place is nostalgic!

Usha R.

I highly recommend this classy restaurant. The food, ambiance and service is excellent!! We got great service from Elmer, and Maria. They were very attentive, excellent service. Kudos to them!
The flamenco performance as part of their scheduled programming is a treat for the eyes. Just beautiful!!
I felt i had a mini trip to Spain!

Mary M.

Hidden 20% service charge buried in tiny grey print never mentioned (see the photo) until the bill. If I lived in the U.S., I would honestly consider suing for these surprise charges. The food was awful: rice was soggy, half the shrimps were empty, lamb chops were tiny and dry, and mains forced us into overpriced “for two” portions. Service was just as bad, the waiter kept snatching plates and glasses before we were even finished, and we were handed three random pieces of bread with no clue what they were for. To top it off, the AC was off on a hot, humid night, making the whole experience unbearable. Overcharged, tasteless, and borderline deceptive, avoid this place at all costs!!for what you see in the photos plus 2 soft drinks and one cocktail we had to pay £198!!

Romeo S.

My wife had never been to D.C. so I made sure to research restaurants ahead of time. This was a Spanish Tapas restaurant, which was different than the restaurants in the area. We ate outside even though it was still hot that week (July 16).
Our waitress was great with us from the get go! I’m sorry but I forget her name but I remember she was from Spain. Knowing this was a tapas restaurant, my wife and I decided to order the patatas bravas and the croquetas de Jamon Serrano. Wow, amazing especially the patatas bravas with that brava sauce with the garlic alioli!
For entrees, my wife got the Alaskan salmon and I got the shrimp with something else. I don’t think it was on the original menu. We capped it off with creme brulee as dessert!
Definitely my favorite restaurant of 2025!! Highly recommend!!